OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20820, 12 March 1931, Page 11

OBITUARY.

SIR ALFRED ROBBINS. LONDON, March 10. The death has occurred of Sir Alfred Robbins, a journalist and a prominent Freemason. Sir Alfred Farthing Robbins was well known for his work as London correspondent of the Birmingham Post from 1888 to 1923. He had been president and also treasurer of the Institute of Journalists. Ho was born at Launceston, Cornwall, in August, 1856, and educated at the local Grammar School.' He began writing for newspapers before he was 16 and for many' years combined journalism with authorship, writing some plays, mainly with a leaning toward comedy, and also such serious works as "Five Years of Tory Rule," which appeared in 1879, just before a Disraeli Government was succeeded by a Gladstone Cabinet. "Wm. Edward Forster, the Man and his Policy," and sketches of the lives of Lord Salisbury and Sir Beville Grenville. In 1888 he received the important appointment of London correspondent of the Birmingham Post, and in the same year published "Practical Politics, or the Liberalism of To-day." It was, however, his work as a London correspondent that brought him distinction. 'ln the 35 years after his appointment ho was in touch with politicians and statesmen of all parties, and his "London Letter" often attracted the attention* of tho political world. Robbins' standard of journalism was high, and as the years went by the most eminent men in the Houses of Parliament discovered that they could discuss the most delicate questions with him and rely on only a desirably discreet statement appearing m his paper. Among his various writings were sketches of the lives of Gladstone and Parnell. He was knighted in 1917. On s the professional side of journalism he was very active, being chairman of the London district of the Institute of Journalists in 1903, and vice-president of tho Newspaper lund in 1925. As a Freemason he was made president ot the Board of General Purposes of Grand Lodge of England in 1913. In 1924 he made a tour of the United States as representative of Grand Lodge, and in 1927 paid a similar visit to Argentina, Uruguav and Brazil. He was a former president of the Dickens Fellowship.